The moonlight cast a silver glow over the Forbidden Forest, a place that everyone in the village feared but never spoke about. Elara stood at the edge of the treeline, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mother's warnings echoed in her mind, but something—some pull—drew her deeper. She didn't know why she'd come. She just knew she couldn't stay away.
Her fingers brushed against the relic she'd found earlier that day, its surface cold even under the summer heat. The moment she touched it, something had sparked within her, a power she didn't understand. The pull had started then, calling her to this forsaken place.
"Don't do this, Elara," she whispered to herself, but her feet had already crossed into the forest.
The trees loomed overhead, casting long shadows that seemed to move and twist in the corner of her vision. Every snap of a branch sent her heart racing, but she couldn't stop now. The deeper she walked, the stronger the pull became, like an invisible hand guiding her steps.
"Elara."
She froze. The voice was soft, barely more than a whisper, but it sent a chill down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around. The forest was still, too still. Her grip tightened on the relic. It thrummed in her hand, alive.
"Who's there?" Elara called out, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. No answer. Just the sound of her own breathing, fast and uneven.
A shadow shifted ahead, darker than the others, and Elara took a step back, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her feet were rooted to the spot.
Then, the shadow moved.
Before she could react, it lunged toward her—a twisted, grotesque form with glowing eyes. It was fast, too fast, and all Elara could do was raise the relic in front of her as if it could somehow protect her.
A blast of light erupted from the relic, brighter than the sun, blinding her for a moment. The creature screeched and recoiled, its form dissipating like smoke in the air.
Elara staggered back, her pulse racing, her hand shaking as the light from the relic faded. She stared at it, heart pounding, breath ragged. What was that? And what had she just done?
Before she could process the attack, a figure stepped out from the shadows. Tall, imposing, with dark hair and eyes that gleamed like polished stone. He moved with a predator's grace, and his gaze fixed on her with unsettling intensity.
"You shouldn't be here."
Elara stumbled back, clutching the relic to her chest. "Who are you?"
The man's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. "The one who just saved your life. Though it seems you've already attracted enough trouble on your own."
Elara's mind raced. Saved her life? What had just happened? And why did she feel like she knew him? Like she'd seen his face before, though she was certain she hadn't.
"What… what is this place?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "You've stepped into a world you're not ready for, Elara. The power you hold—it's something people have been hunting for centuries."
Elara swallowed, fear twisting in her gut. "I don't understand. I didn't mean to…"
"You didn't have to mean it," he interrupted, his voice low, almost amused. "That relic chose you. And now, you're part of something far bigger than you realize."
Her eyes widened. "Chose me? What are you talking about?"
His smile faded, and for a moment, his expression softened—just a flicker of something more human beneath the hard exterior. "The relic is a key, Elara. It's ancient, powerful. And now that you've activated it, you've drawn the attention of forces far more dangerous than you can imagine."
Elara's breath hitched, her mind spinning. She had known something was wrong the moment she touched the relic, but she hadn't realized it would thrust her into a world of danger. "What do they want with me?"
"Power," the man said simply. "Control. And they'll stop at nothing to take it from you."
Elara's pulse quickened. She'd always lived a quiet life, sheltered in the village, away from anything remotely dangerous. But now… now she was at the center of something terrifying. "How do I stop them?"
The man's gaze darkened. "You can't. Not alone."
She shook her head, panic clawing at her chest. "I don't even know how to control this! I didn't even know magic like this existed."
The man stepped closer, his voice low, steady. "That's why you need me. I can help you, Elara. But you have to trust me."
Elara hesitated. Everything about this screamed danger, but what choice did she have? She could feel the weight of the relic in her hand, the power humming through her veins. She was in too deep, and there was no turning back.
"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice softer this time, almost pleading.
His eyes held hers, and for the briefest moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something—pain, maybe, or regret. "My name is Darius. And if you want to survive, you'll follow me."
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken promises and threats alike. Elara didn't know if she could trust him, but she knew one thing: she was in over her head, and the only way out was through.
She nodded slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. "Alright. I'll follow you."
Darius's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Good choice."
As they began walking deeper into the forest, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just changed forever. And whatever lay ahead, there was no going back.
The shadows of the Lost Realm were closing in, and she had no idea how to stop them.
A low growl echoed through the trees behind them, closer than before. Darius's eyes flickered with alarm, and his hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
"We're not alone," he murmured.
Elara's heart raced as the growl grew louder, more menacing. Something was hunting them—and it was getting closer.